In everyones lifethere comes a point in time when you assess your life, notjust look back in time, but see the progression, the triumphsand the failures…..Eleanor Smith had reached this point. Shesees that things arent as they seem, the passion and desire isgone from her marriage, she is unable to influence herchildrens life, her best friend, who is an alcoholic seems tohave her life in more order then Eleanor. How did her happylife slip away before her eyes. The story evolves aroundEleanor, emotions and feelings. On the outside side she triesto be the happy homemaker, and plans dinnners for theprestge of her husband, Hugh. She tries to get in touch withher rebelious teenage daughter, and play the friend figure,but whatever she does nothing seems to make them as closeas they used to be, bot even buying her gifts seems to workanymore. Her son, who is going through a rough time,because he recently broke up eith his girlfriend, wont allowher to help him through his problem. Inside Eleanor is dyingfrom the lcak of love she recieves. Even what used to be ayoung vibrant even beautiful face, has been washed out bythe stress she feels. The purpose of the story, is to inform thereader that things arent all ways as it seem, and that changeis inevtitable. After a disatorous dinner party, Hughs bestfriends wife, whom Eleanor was always quite envious ofbecause, she always seemed happy and she seemed have aperfect marriage, but she soon realizes that like herself, shefeels lost in the shuffle of a over dominant husband. Anotherlesson it teaches, is you cant always do the right thing.
Eleanor feels the need to escape from her life, if just for awhile, on a visit to her mother, Eleanors mother even tries oconvince her that it would be insane to leave such acomfortable life. Who would leave a handsome, well offhusband, three children that need a mother figure, and abeautiful home. They Shouldnt Make You Promise Thattakes place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The Smiths live ina fairly prominate community, making Eleanors situation evenworse, because she must contend with the fact of disgracingher husband infront of the upity people she lives around, andin a small community news of that caliber makes a goodtopic for gossip. The subject matter deals with currentsituations, it takes place during the 1980s when woman arebecoming more liberated. The tension between Hugh andEleanor grows throughout the book She finally leaves Hughto visit her mother, but when she returns she stays at anothermans house. While on her trip she took her dog with her, shedecides to take her the dog back to her familys house, shealso faces the decision of whether to return or do the bravething and start a new life. If she returns the choke chain whileget a little tighter, and there will always be anotherpsychiatrist to subscribe another pill for depression. If shedoesnt return she leaves her comfortable prison, and shewould leave her kids, how could she bare to live without herkids. This is where the book reaches its climax the wholeunderlying meaning of the book depends on if she breaksdown and goes back or never looks back.
Category: Book Reports
